PEOPLE in the profession of management must possess good                                                                                              
presentation skills. It cannot be denied that it is very much                                                                                         
a "talking" world today with managers attending meetings,                                                                                   
seminars, conferences, discussions, etc.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Even a manager's very intake is based considerably on his                                                                                             
ability to express himself. It is also true that sometimes                                                                                            
"fast-talkers" get away with things by influencing people, at                                                                               
least in the short run.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Management is a profession that does not stand on flowery                                                                                             
language but believes in getting right to the point. This is                                                                                          
what managers must remember when they are speaking in a                                                                                               
meeting or presenting a paper at a seminar.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
Say what you want to say, then go on and say it, after which                                                                                          
you tell the audience what you have just said. This means one                                                                                         
has to prepare, read up and "test-run" if presenting a paper.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
Even if one is just participating in a meeting, the                                                                                                   
participation, the flow of thought, language, etc. would show                                                                                         
whether one has read the minutes or papers for the meeting.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
The language used need not be too profound; in fact there is a                                                                                        
possibility that one could end up talking above the heads of                                                                                          
the audience. If it is a highly learned crowd, it is all                                                                                              
right; otherwise use simple language, speak at a moderate                                                                                             
pace, pause if necessary.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Sometimes the use of idioms or expressions like "tuppence,"                                                                                 
"what is good for the goose is also good for the gander,"                                                                                   
"Caesar was ambitious," does not seem to impress our younger                                                                                
audience. This seems to be true in writing too. Simplicity                                                                                            
seldom "chases away" the listener/reader.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
It is always important to speak grammatically-correct English.                                                                                        
At a recent seminar at a local university, I heard a professor                                                                                        
say: "I thanks you for attending this seminar ... "                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
Clearing mistakes such as this hurt the ear, at least that of                                                                                         
good English-speaking people. Although it may sound                                                                                                   
ridiculous, there are a few local motivational speakers who                                                                                           
speak atrocious English but yet mesmerise their audience.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
It is their exuberance, enthusiasm, energy level, and sheer                                                                                           
confidence that carry the day. How much better it would be if                                                                                         
they took some trouble to improve their grammar and                                                                                                   
pronunciation. In general, the fact still holds true, that                                                                                            
English spoken should be as close as possible to "BBC                                                                                            
English."                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
It is quite common to use audiovisual aids in modern day                                                                                              
presentation.  The Barco system or multimedia presentation is                                                                                         
often used. Others would include the traditional OHP (overhead                                                                                        
projector), slide projector, flip-charts, pictures, etc.                                                                                              
Presenters should bear in mind that whatever the aid, it                                                                                              
should always remain an aid, meaning that it should not steal                                                                                         
the show from the speaker.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
A colleague of mine reckons that only a "poor" presenter needs                                                                              
aids to support and make the presenter look good; better ones                                                                                         
would just speak and "mesmerise" the audience. One cannot                                                                                   
totally disagree with the above comment; good speakers like                                                                                           
Lee Kuan Yew, Gabino Mendoza and Ungku Aziz, are pretty at                                                                                            
home without audio-visual aids.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
But this does not negate the fact that some speakers do very                                                                                          
well with the back-up of AVAs. Examples are Tom Peters, Al                                                                                            
Ries and Jack Trout, Naisbitt, etc. Normally an intellectual                                                                                          
discourse would fair better with audio-visual aids.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
One of the first things that a speaker should find out is                                                                                             
about the audience, for example their profession, educational                                                                                         
level, age, interests, others (rural/urban, etc). If possible,                                                                                        
get to see the room before the speech to get a familiar                                                                                               
feeling, test the equipment (for a presentation in Pakistan I                                                                                         
had three tests; took along extra batteries, a laser pointer,                                                                                         
carousel for the slide projector, the remote controller).                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Experts say it is good to mingle with the audience before the                                                                                         
event to get a feel; sometimes one can even quote something                                                                                           
from an earlier interaction thereby bringing oneself "closer"                                                                               
to the audience.                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
The use of notes, cards or prompters is all right, so long as                                                                                         
one does not read word for word from the text. Unfortunately,                                                                                         
this does happen in our seminars, with the result that a good                                                                                         
part of the audience goes into a slumber.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
It goes without saying that one has to be loud, clear, and                                                                                            
look confident. One should take note not to mention words or                                                                                          
phrases that could be misunderstood (it would be good if one                                                                                          
can test the text with a colleague). The speech itself should                                                                                         
have an opening, body and a conclusion. Feel free to use jokes                                                                                        
or cartoons.                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
The audience would love it if the punchline falls in place.                                                                                           
Laughter helps to circulate the blood and keeps the audience                                                                                          
"alive." Some speakers at times overdo it; bear in mind that                                                                                
it is a talk and not a comedy show.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Some experts are of the opinion that speakers should not hide                                                                                         
behind lecterns. They are of the opinion that standing behind                                                                                         
the lectern, or any other obstacle, "separates" the audience                                                                                
from the speaker. Already the stage is brighter than the rest                                                                                         
of the hall, standing or hiding behind a lectern would further                                                                                        
distance the speaker from his listeners.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Body language is very important, it will tell the audience                                                                                            
whether you mean what you say-whether you believe it yourself.                                                                                        
This is where "walking'! away from the lectern becomes                                                                                           
effective, "exposing" yourself, showing energy and vitality.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                      
Gestulating is also a part of body language, one's hand                                                                                               
movement, emphasising a point, "stroking" the audience as it                                                                                
were. Speakers should bear in mind that some audience may not                                                                                         
like too much "index finger" pointing, which is very much a                                                                                 
western way of emphasis.                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Always choose a V-shape in the audience and look at the                                                                                               
audience or at least three persons, two at both ends of the V                                                                                         
and one at the joint, giving the impression that you are                                                                                              
looking at the whole crowd. Look out for the back three rows                                                                                          
for restlessness. If there is, it is a signal for you to                                                                                              
change pace, tell a joke, or "jolt" your audience.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
If you want audience participation, it is fine; only bear in                                                                                          
mind about asking people to read something on the OHP screen                                                                                          
or from the notes. I learnt it the hard way in Kota Kinabalu;                                                                                         
the audience did not like this very much (perhaps one could                                                                                           
ask for volunteers).                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Besides, one could end up calling people who are vision                                                                                               
disabled, dyslexics (vision, auditory senses "distorted"), or                                                                               
even illiterates.  There could be some who may not be so good                                                                                         
in English.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
A good way to get to one's audience is to speak from the                                                                                              
heart, which means no putting on. "Words represent your                                                                                          
intellect. The sound, gesture and movement represent your                                                                                             
feeling," said Patricia Fripp.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
One way to "learn" to speak in public is to attend seminars,                                                                                
meetings, etc.-observe how others speak. One could also attend                                                                                        
courses on public speaking and presentation skills or join the                                                                                        
MIM Toastmasters Clubs.                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Start by asking questions during question time in seminars,                                                                                           
conferences. However, don't fall into the common mistake we                                                                                           
Malaysians seem to make. That is, instead of asking questions                                                                                         
we make statements, long-winded statements that confuse the                                                                                           
audience and make one wonder whether it is a question or an                                                                                           
opinion.                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
Some would even venture to thank the speaker (this can be done                                                                                        
in private so as not to waste other people's time; besides the                                                                                        
chairman is there to do this). Managers must get to the point,                                                                                        
ask clear and thought-provoking questions which would call for                                                                                        
the opinion or view of the speaker. Do not ask questions                                                                                              
answers to which you already know. you can market yourself in                                                                                         
other ways.                                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                                      
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaqlia puts it very well when he                                                                                           
says: "There is no 'secret' to being a successful                                                                                                
communicator-just prepare, know your subject and care."                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
Public speaking is the greatest fear people have, according to                                                                                        
a survey done by one English newspaper. Therefore it needs                                                                                            
practice, preparation, persistence and patience to master this                                                                                        
art.                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Once you overcome the initial fears, you will not find it that                                                                                        
difficult; in fact you may begin to enjoy it, while enhancing                                                                                         
yourself as an effective and "expressive" manage.